With my new book being published tomorrow – yes I’ll be squeeing on this blog again then, don’t worry – my attention was just drawn to the Goodreads Choice Awards and the elligible publication dates. Reader nominations close on November 8th for books published up until November 15th. (DUH!)

i.e. Nominations will close before some books even hit the shelves.

Rules say: Books published in the United States in English, including works in translation and other significant rereleases, between November 17, 2013, and November 15, 2014, are eligible for the 2014 Goodreads Choice Awards. Books published between November 16, 2014, and December 31, 2014, will be eligible for the 2015 awards.

This seems very unfair to books published on the cusp which this year includes my fellow DAWthor, the immensely talented Tanya Huff (‘Future Falls’ published November 4th) – and, I’m sure, many other fine books from many other fine publishers.

So how to they select the shortlist? I quote from Goodreads own explanation: How did we arrive at the 15 different nominees in 20 categories ranging from Fiction to Fantasy to Food & Cookbooks to Young Adult Fiction? Lots and lots of numbers! Instead of relying on experts or judges, we analyzed statistics from the 275 million books added, rated, and reviewed on Goodreads in 2014.

So books that have been on the shelves longest will have accrued the most ratings. Well, there’s always an element of that in any awards voting system, but see the cutoff dates again (above).

Then they add: Of course, with hundreds of thousands of books published in 2014, no nominee list could cover everything. We also accept write-in votes during the Opening Round to ensure that you can vote for exactly the book you want!

You have three chances to vote. The Opening Round lasts until November 8. Vote now to make sure your favorite books make it into the Semifinals (November 10 – 15) and Finals (November 17 – 24).

So any new book published between November 8th, when the write-in votes close, and November 15th – the official end of the eligibility period is basically stuffed.

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About Jacey Bedford

Jacey Bedford maintains this blog. She is a writer of science fiction and fantasy (www.jaceybedford.co.uk), the secretary of Milford SF Writers (www.milfordSF.co.uk), a singer (www.artisan-harmony.com) and a music agent booking UK tours and concerts for folk performers (www.jacey-bedford.com). She's also a Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration department licensed sponsor processing UK work permits (Certificates of Sponsorship).